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Why Dogs Eat Poop

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Carol McGraw, who writes for the Colorado Springs Gazette, writes about how to stop a dog from eating poop.

She quotes pet trainer Jan Fennell, the author of "The Seven Ages of Man's Best Friend", who says to feed the dog pineapple or zucchini, which makes poop unpalatable.

AS IF poop was palatable to begin with!

She goes on to ask why dogs even bother eating poop...
Some experts say dogs eat it because they are bored. Others say they need more protein in their diets, or they're mimicking their mothers' work of keeping the nest clean, or they've got pancreatic problems.
I've got my own theory. While dogs have a very keen sense of smell, they have very poor taste buds. This allows them to sniff out traces of food, and be able to eat it without being disgusted by the taste. In other words, poor tastes bud is a survival technique.

Only once have I ever witnessed either of my dogs eating poop. Otherwise, they just sniff it and move on. I bet if you keep your dogs fed on a regular schedule, they won't bother eating poop.

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4 Comments:

  • my cockapoo used to eat poo poo, and i bought her from people at 11weeks old, after i gave her tender loving care excerise, by walking and feed her a good diet and most of all paid attention to her, she quit eating the smelly poop!! i think the other folks who use to own her, didnt pay enough attention to her and she was very bored!! give em love and attention they will overcome the bad habit..

    By Blogger kalia, at 7:36 AM, September 30, 2007  

  • Ah - but you didn't qualify the poop. My dog and her friends would never eat dog poop but cat poop - now, that's a different story. I walk her at least two, usually three times a day, she goes to doggie day care at least once a week, hangs out with three neighbor dogs throughout the day, eats the best food, gets marrow bones and doggie treats, gets an incredible amount of attention from me, neighbors, neighbor's kids, etc. but....when it comes to cat poop - she acts like she has foraged up some delicacy. I think it is some kind of learned behavior because I never saw her eat it until we started walking with a neighbor's dog who was crazy about it but now - only leave it in the sternest of tones will stop her.

    By Blogger jill bryant, at 11:24 AM, September 30, 2007  

  • My dogs are spoiled rotten!!! But she seems to think the sheep poop is fabulous! One dog is rolling in it the other is eating it! Pretty disgusting for farm life and indoor dogs!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:15 PM, October 01, 2007  

  • Extra mayo for me please!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:43 PM, October 04, 2007  

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